Peter Z. Onufryk

Network Processors: An Introduction to Design Issues

Designing cost-effective network processors (NP) is one of the most challenging tasks of current computer architecture problems. A network processor encompasses everything from task-specific processors, such as classification and encryption engines to more general-purpose packet or communications processors. This chapter introduces some of the central architecture themes that cut across a number of current NP designs. It is noted that the general issue remains that both the design space and the application space are very large and are continuously changing due to the emerging hardware technology, protocol standards, and driving applications. The chapter also discusses a set of research papers devoted to questions related to analyzing, simulating, and designing network processors. In addition, it presents industry analysts perspective of the NP field and commercial network processors. Furthermore, the chapter introduces some of the design challenges and corresponding architectural approaches currently used in NP research and development.

Network processors: New horizon

This chapter presents the latest research on network processor architectures, hardware, modeling, software environments, and application development. While considerable progress has been made in this field of study, it is far from mature. New application areas, such as network security and TCP offload, are challenging the basic architecture of current network processors. Continued opportunity exists for enhancing tools, environments, and techniques for programming and performance estimation of these devices. In the few short years that the field has existed, it has already seen the application domain for network processors move far beyond traditional router line-card applications. The rapid convergence of networking and computing is likely to challenge the fundamental existence of stand-alone, general-purpose network processors. It is quite likely that concepts and techniques used in todays network processors will find their way into future general purpose CPUs, such as those found in workstations and servers. As the convergence in LAN, storage, cluster, and server interconnects continues, it is also likely that the concepts and techniques used in todays network processors will find their way into deeply embedded application-specific devices, such as network adaptors, switches, and peripherals. Networking speeds will continue to grow and raw performance will continue to be an important component of network processor design.

Network Processors: Themes and Challenges

Publisher Summary Network processor (NP) encompasses everything from task-specific processors—such as classification, encryption, and traffic management engines—to more general-purpose and programmable packet or communications processors. This chapter deals with the themes and challenges of NP. Although technology advances continue to enable increasingly faster networks, the telecommunications downturn has slowed the rate of deployment of these new technologies as the oversupply of network capacity built during the boom years is brought in line with demand. This, in turn, is changing the focus of network processor design. Equipment vendors no longer view performance as the sole differentiator among network processors, but consider other factors—such as ease of programming and application development—as important. Programmability remains a substantial challenge due to the different types of NP architectures, the evolution of networking standards and applications, and the unavailability of a unified and widely accepted set of software development and performance prediction tools. Additionally, there are concerns of growing importance that focus on software and new applications for network processors.